Invasive Plant Kudzu Being Used for Landscaping in North Carolina Home, Neighbors Enraged with HOA Inaction

The invasive plant kudzu was used to transform the landscaping of a North Carolina property. Their neighbors are furious because the HOA took no action to prevent the use of the invasive vine.

Concerning Landscaping Choice

A Redditor with the handle u/RichardFister became concerned with his neighbor's choice for landscaping, however, after talking to his neighbor and to the HOA, no action was implemented, prompting his post on the r/legaladvice subreddit.

In his post, the user said that his neighbor is putting down invasive and quickly dispersing plants on his land. Later, the user inquired about their legal options for stopping the new landscaping installation. They continued by saying that only a few feet from the tree line, a neighboring homeowner began growing kudzu as a ground cover.

Invasive Vine Kudzu

Fast-growing and invasive, kudzu is a vine. With the way it spreads, the Redditor compared it to a wildfire in the south.

The irate Redditor began looking for legal counsel to prevent the neighbor from releasing plants in the neighborhood after the HOA told him they couldn't do anything about it because it wasn't a substantial landscaping alteration. The Redditor worries that it will develop to a point where it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of the vines.

Dubbed "mile-a-minute" and "the Southern devourer," this perennial vine invades the southeastern US, inching into the Midwest, Northeast, and Oregon. Kudzu, originating from Japan and southeast China, arrived in the US during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was marketed as an appealing ornamental plant with fragrant flowers and strong vines.

Initially championed for soil erosion control by the Soil Conservation Service from the 1930s to 1950s, its invasive nature became evident as it ruthlessly overtook native species. Kudzu spreads rapidly via runners, rhizomes, and rooting vines, surging up to a foot daily and yielding vines up to 100 feet long.

The neighbor's addition of the quickly spreading Lily of the Valley along with the invasive vine kudzu raises additional concerns for the Reddit user.

Effects of Invasives

Plant invasions are a major source of worry. Due to their competition with local species for sunlight, moisture, nutrients, and space, they have the potential to do significant harm to the areas they live in. Additionally, invasive species can cause a decline in the region's total plant variety.

The US Forest Service stated that invasive plants have led to the overall reduction of 42% of US threatened and endangered species. They also harm wildlife habitats.

Kudzu contributes to ozone pollution in addition to rapidly encroaching on landscapes, transforming ecosystems, and expanding into new regions, according to Columbia Climate School.

Because of its propensity to create massive colonies and its capacity for quick expansion, the lily of the valley is regarded as invasive in many places. It is also poisonous to both people and animals.